A message from Bill Leaver to our leaders across Iowa Health System | January 2013

Staying Connected

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Inside Trinity-Rock Island's Proposed $61.3 million Expansion

Officials at Trinity Regional Health Systemhave announced their intention to build a proposed 90,000 square-foot, three-story expansion of its Heart Center and Emergency department (ED) at the Trinity Rock Island campus, pending regulatory approval from the State of Illinois. The $61.3 million construction project – which will be located at the front of the hospital – is the largest in the facility’s history. The expansion is designed to improve patient safety and privacy, better coordinate care, reduce operational costs and accommodate increased demand.

“Over the past 40 years, Trinity has consistently kept current with changes in medical advances and technology; however, very few capital improvements to the Rock Island hospital building have been made. We have waited as long as we can to upgrade and modernize our hospital,” said Trinity President and CEO Rick Seidler. “The rapidly increasing number of patients in the emergency department, cardiac treatment unit, and psychiatric crisis service areas has stretched these units beyond capacity. The need is critical.”

The project will be funded through a combination of internal reserves and borrowing throughIowa Health System.

“We see there is a great need for this project in the Quad Cities. We understand the huge benefits that will result from it,” said Bill Leaver, President and CEO, Iowa Health System. “Iowa Health System’s financial support of this project is a vote of confidence in Trinity and the Quad Cities.”

During the news conference, officials also announced that the Trinity Health Foundation will conduct a capital campaign to support the expansion as well.

Trinity’s Certificate of Need application is scheduled to go before the Illinois Facilities and Planning Review Board on March 26, 2013. If approved, Trinity plans to break ground in June 2013 with construction completed by summer 2015.

St. Luke’s - Sioux City and Cardiovascular Associates, P.C. Form a Partnership

In forging new paths to better coordinate care, St. Luke’s and Cardiovascular Associates (CVA) entered into a partnership agreement on January 1. Through this partnership St. Luke’s and CVA will work together to enhance hospital services, operate cardiology clinics and manage outreach services. For the patient, this means improved coordination and focus on delivering high quality care.

CVA is the area’s only cardiology group with accreditation in echocardiography, nuclear medicine and vascular diagnostic imaging.

In recent years St. Luke’s has worked with CVA to determine what enhancements were necessary in order to provide Siouxland patients the most advanced heart care. Through their combined efforts, a state-of-the art Coronary Care Unit was opened and has proven valuable in treating patients’ critical care needs. The new partnership opens the door for more enhancements to unveil this spring.

From planned procedures to emergency care, the St. Luke’s and CVA partnership surrounds the heart patient with a team dedicated and able to provide the proper setting and the most efficient route to wellness.

The seven member county-elected Board of Trustees of Story County Medical Center has approved a new affiliation with Iowa Health – Des Moines.

Story County Medical Center’s affiliation with Iowa Health – Des Moines will be effective February 1, 2013 and will replace its current agreement with Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines. The agreement with Iowa Health – Des Moines will provide hospital management and consultation services and will also include the necessary affiliation services for Story Medical to meet the requirements to maintain its status as a rural Critical Access Hospital.

“We are very proud and honored to have the opportunity to partner with Story Medical,” said Eric Crowell, president and CEO of Iowa Health – Des Moines. “We are looking forward to working together to find new ways and opportunities to improve medical care for the people of Story County and surrounding communities.”

The Story County Medical Center Board of Trustees named Tom Mulrooney, FACHE, as interim CEO of Story Medical. Tom will assume these responsibilities on February 1st. Tom started his career at Iowa Health – Des Moines as an administrative fellow in It is anticipated the search for a permanent CEO will take three to four months.

Methodist - Illinois Opens Expanded Physician Office in Washington

Methodist Medical Group in Washington, Ill. started the New Year in a large new facility with expanded healthcare services. The Methodist Medical Group office will continue to provide family medicine, sports medicine, and full x-ray and laboratory services. In addition, the clinic is adding a full-time podiatrist, as well as physical therapy services provided by Professional Therapy Services. The $4 million, 13,000-square-foot facility situated on two acres just off the Washington bypass on Cummings Lane opened January 2, 1013.

Michael Namanny, Vice President of Methodist Medical Group, said, “The new office will better serve patients by offering greater comfort and space in a beautiful new building that also allows for future growth opportunities. In addition we’re pleased to be able to add podiatry services for the Washington area.”

Federal Funds Announced for Trewyn In-School Health Facilities

Methodist - Illinois is the recipient of a $304,388 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. The federal grant will be used to assist with renovation costs for the in-school health facility located within the local Trewyn School.

Stacy DeJaynes, Director of the In-School Health Program for Methodist said the money will allow for the relocation of existing health services in the school to a more centralized location as well as increasing the size of the health center to improve health services for students at Trewyn.

The grant was announced late in December as part of $80 million in federal funding made available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Health Resources and Services Administration to improve access to primary, mental and oral health care for school aged children.

The new facilities are targeted for completion in the fall of 2013.

AWARDS, MOVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

3 IHS Regions Among the Top 5 per cent - 2013 Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence

Three regions: Methodist-Illinois, St. Luke's-Cedar Rapids and Allen have been named one of the top 5 per cent of hospitals in the nation for clinical outcomes. The designation was made by Healthgrades, a leading Denver-based health research company.

According to the Healthgrades report, if all hospitals in the nation had mortality rates as low as the 262 award winners, almost 165,000 lives would have been saved between 2009 and 2011. That translates to 30.9% fewer deaths.

The annual award examines clinical performance across a variety of conditions including stroke, heart attack and joint replacement.